Bathing a cat can be significantly easier than old jokes would have you believe, especially if you are calm and confident throughout the process. To help you with this important aspect of pet care, Dells Animal Hospital in Wisconsin Dells has put together these tips for providing the most effective and relaxing experience possible for both you and your cat:

• Perform Pre-Bath Brushing: Brush out loose fur and de-tangle any matted hair. Baths can actually tighten matted hair, making it even more difficult (and painful) to remove later. If your brushing / de-matting session was difficult, wait a few hours before starting the bath. To get the most out of any animal care, make sure your cat is relaxed and calm.

• Run The Bathwater Beforehand: Do not fill up the tub with your cat in the bathroom, as the sound can easily stress her out. Instead, wait until it's already filled with lukewarm water, no higher than four inches, before bringing her into the tub.

• Get A Spotter: Sometimes it's helpful for a calm and quiet friend to gently hold onto your cat while you bathe her. Never push her downwards, hold her tightly, or submerge her head. The purpose of a spotter is to soothe her and keep her from jumping out of the tub.

  

• Thoroughly Dampen Fur & Use Cat Or Baby Shampoo: It's important to fully wet the cat to make the cleaning more efficient. This part is especially difficult with long-haired cats, whose guard hairs naturally resist water. Just be patient, gentle, and never spray or pour water directly onto your cat's face. Use a gentle pet or baby shampoo and always shampoo and rinse from neck to tail.

• Rinse & Dry With Care: After rinsing your cat delicately, use a washcloth dampened with plain water to spot clean her face, taking care to avoid her sensitive eyes and ears. Towel dry all excess water. Some cats prefer to be left alone in a warm place while they dry out while others like a blow dryer on the lowest heat setting.

Want more expert pet care advice? Visit Dells Animal Hospital online, or set up an appointment with your Wisconsin Dells pet hospital by calling (608) 253-7361.